Defence Secretary Dismisses Rafale Shootdown Claims, Says Pakistan Suffered Heavier Losses In Operation Sindoor-OxBig News Network

Defence Secretary RK Singh on Monday dismissed claims that India’s Rafale fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, calling the reports inaccurate and misleading.

“You have used the term Rafales in the plural, I can assure you that is absolutely not correct. Pakistan suffered losses many times over India in both human and material terms and more than 100 terrorists,” he said in an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18.

Singh further informed that India is looking to increase the defence expenditure share in GDP from  1.9 per cent to 2.5 per cent in the coming years.

Early on Monday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that global demand for Indian defence equipment has risen following Operation Sindoor. He noted that world military spending surpassed USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, presenting a significant opportunity for India in the global defence market.

Speaking at the Controllers Conference organised by DRDO, the Union Defence Minister said, “The world is looking towards our Defence sector. The valour that our soldiers have shown during Operation Sindoor, as well as the way we showcased the capabilities of our domestic equipment, has led to an increase in demand for our indigenous defence products. World military expenditure has increased to over $2.7 trillion in 2024 – such a big market is awaiting us.”

Singh further mentioned that India’s Defence budget is bigger than the GDP of various countries in the world, highlighting the need to utilise the resources in the right way.